Practically Fit

How the heck do you measure vigor? We aren’t sure, but you don’t want reduced vigor, and that’s why you need rest. In this episode, Jen and Alex talk about what happens when you don’t rest and you overtrain. News flash: it’s not good, especially if you enjoy things like libido, good moods and of course, vigor. With that in mind, what are the symptoms of overtraining? And how much rest do you need?...

Are healthy habits contagious? In this episode, Jen and Alex talk about why they’re so thankful for fitness friends, and what the science says about hanging around people who stay in shape. Jen and Alex also share how their fitness friends have helped them through the years. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ww...

Heading into Thanksgiving, Jen and Alex tackle some burning questions related to nutrition. Will we all get a beer belly? And what’s the deal with slowing metabolism? Alex shares some tips on nutrition from “blue zones,” places on earth where people live noticeably longer. In addition, Jen shares her own personal diet hacks. If you’re thinking about changing your diet as you age, you don’t want to...

Over 40 and looking to improve your cardiovascular health? Odds are, you’re considering running or cycling. But what do you really need to know about the subcultures for each of these activities? What’s up with runners’ weird obsessions? Is road cycling safe? And how much do each of these sports actually cost? In this episode, Jen and Alex answer those questions, and more. Plus, our first listener...

With fitness, inevitably, comes failure. In the this episode of the Practically Fit podcast, Jen and Alex discuss the biggest fitness failures they’ve experienced involving running, jumping, taekwondo…and a certain gym that’s open 24 hours. They also share what they’ve learned from these failures, and how failure has changed their approach to fitness as they age. This is a public episode. If you w...

What is toxic fitness culture? How long has it been around? And what’s the antidote for all this toxicity? Those are the questions Jen and Alex seek to answer in this episode of the podcast. They trace the roots of modern-day toxicity in U.S. fitness culture back to the turn of the century, though you could probably go back further. From early purveyors of diet and fitness routines, to bodybuildin...

As we get older, the chances for injury increase. That’s the happy thought that Jen and Alex start off this episode with. They talk about what happens to your body as you age, and what research says are the most common injuries for people over 40. Jen and Alex also talk about their worst injuries, and what they learned from them. Spoiler alert: Jen had a really weird toe injury. They end the podca...

Setting realistic fitness goals isn’t always easy. In the this episode of the Practically Fit podcast, Jen and Alex talk about some of the barriers they’ve faced in setting realistic goals, like being overly competitive and or trying to overcompensate for fear of health problems. They also share some tips that can help you set more realistic fitness goals, and talk about what some of those goals m...

In the first episode of the Practically Fit podcast (Real Fitness Over 40), Jennifer and Alex discuss their personal fitness journeys, including how Jen went from smoking cigarettes to smoking marathons, and how Alex learned many a fitness lesson through failures that date all the way back to middle school. They also talk about their recent “aha” moments for fitness, and how that’s led them on a j...